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Nostril Piercing Jewelry

This section covers the choice of jewelry which is best for Nostril Piercings. Which due to it's placement can be rather limited on choose of style, gauge and size of jewelry.

Jewelry Style:

When it comes to Nostril piercings it's important to consider that the jewelry and piercing will be in contact with clothes and bedding during and after the healing. So the jewelry needs to be simple, without points or edges that will get caught on things but still allows rooms for swelling, discharge and cleaning. Since the jewelry can tend to hang it's important especially during the healing that there is no additional weight that might add stress to the piercing during healing.

It is my experience that the piercing is best done with a ring because they are easier to take care for during healing and are more secure than nostril screws and other post style jewelry. However, if the nostril screw allows enough room for swelling, discharge and proper healing and with the piercee taking added precautions there is no reason that they piercing will not heal with little or no problem when it is pierced with a nostril screw.

Rings and Circular style jewelry such as Captive Bead or Beaded Rings and Circular Barbells:

The Advantages:

There are no sharp edges and points that may get caught on clothing, bedding and etc..

Since the jewelry is not tight and wider than the piercing area, allows extra room for swelling, discharge and cleaning.

Especially with Captive Bead and Beaded Rings the jewelry is designed to be secure long term wear and there isn't the worry about ends coming unscrewed and losing the o-rings. So it reduces the maintenance and gives the piercee one less thing to deal during the healing.

Much easier to move for cleaning.

Usually lighter in weight then threaded jewelry.

The Disadvantages:

The profile of the rings may cause additional contact, abuse and stress on the piercing.

Especially with Captive Bead and Beaded Rings, they can be difficult to remove or replace. In some cases requiring special tools to remove the jewelry.

Nostril Screw, L Bends and post style jewelry:

​​The Advantages:

Lower profile may reduce abuse from contact with clothing, bedding and etc.. and less noticeable.

The jewelry is easier to remove.

The Disadvantages:

​​Jewelry must be longer than needed to allow for swelling, discharge, and cleaning. This often means the piercing is much longer than is needed. Thus making the jewelry less secure.

If the jewelry is too tight there is no extra room at all and can cause the jewelry to become impacted.

The jewelry is not as secure as a ring would be. So added precautions to avoid contact with bedding, clothing, towels and etc... must be taken to avoid the jewelry falling out and losing the piercing.

Jewelry that should be avoided during Healing and after:

Nostril Bones:

​​Since the piercing will conform or srink to the thickness of the jewelry, removing the jewelry will involve forcing the larger ball through the piercing or cutting the jewelry to remove it.

The jewelry is often too short which doesn't allow for swelling and the collection and removal of discharge. Also can lead to the body swelling beyond the length of the jewelry and impacting into the piercing.

Ear Piercing Studs and other traditional jewelry:

​​The jewelry is often too short to allow for the thickness of piercing area. Which doesn't allow for swelling and can cause the jewelry to be impacted into the piercing. Also if the jewelry is too tight it can block both discharge and the flow of oxygen that can increase healing time and/or increase risk to infection or other problems.

The backs or locks are lose and can tighten with normal wear.

Often the jewelry material is not body friendly. Even those that are marketed to those with sensitivity to metal are only plated.

In most cases can not be sterilized correctly.

​Size of the Jewelry and Weight:

​Gauge:​

As a refresher gauge is the thickness of the wire that the jewelry is made out of. Body piercing jewelry generally starts at 18 gauge jewelry and goes up to 0000 gauge jewelry. The smaller the number the thicker the jewelry will be. As I'm sure you know, the thicker the jewelry is the more weight and thus the more stress on the piercing during the healing period. Also the thicker the jewelry the more tissue that needs to be produce and thus the longer the healing period. Though in most cases a 18 gauge piercing will heal out in about the same time as a 12 gauge piercing will.

When choosing the gauge of the jewelry, the jewelry needs to be thick enough to reduce rejection or migration and have resistance to tearing but light enough that it will not cause added stress during healing. With Nostril piercings you are only really limited by the jewelry that is available and the shape and size of the piercing area. Though weight is a factor that should be considered, there is no reason that the piercing can not be done with larger gauges. However I do not suggest piercing with gauges thinner than 18g.

Width:

​The jewelry needs to be large enough to allow extra room for swelling, discharge and cleaning. If the piercing is done with a Nostril this usually means that the jewelry must be done with a much longer piece then is needed, thus adding additional weight and added risks including the jewelry falling out. With a ring the jewelry should be at least 1/8 of an inch wider than the distance between the two piercing holes. The piercing should not be wider then a 1/4 turn of the ring.

With nostril screws and other stud style jewelry, the jewelry needs to be at least 1/8th of an inch longer than the piercing to allow for swelling and collection and cleaning of the discharge. Once the piercing is healed the jewelry can be adjusted to fit the piercing and reduce the chances of it falling out.

Regardless of what type of jewelry is worn there should always be a small amount of play even in a healed piercing.

In conclusion, nothing replaces the first hand knowledge of a professional piercer when it comes to choosing the correct jewelry. There is vast differences in shape and size and often what works for 99.99% of the public is not the best choice for you. The goal of this is to give you a working understand of jewelry selection, so that you can have an educated discussion with your piercer on what will work best. Every piercer understands that one of the motivations of you getting the piercing is fashion but jewelry that will produce the best out come should always rule out fashion. Think of the jewelry that the piercing is done with as trainer jewelry that will be replaced with what you like after the piercing is healed.